SEALs of Honor: Mason by Dale Mayer Read Free Book Online

important and what did he want to do before the land mine with his name on it found him. At the same time he’d had that insidious idea that with Harry out of the picture there was no barrier to meeting her and seeing where it went. Now though, he realized that Harry was between them more than ever.
    “Right?”
    He glanced back at Hawk and caught his wide grin as he mentally went click, click, click and came up with the right answer.
    Hawk made a silent oh sound with his mouth and his gaze widened in sudden awareness, his gaze intent on Tesla and the way she was snuggled into his chest.
    But he stayed quiet. For which Mason was grateful.
    He checked the time. “Go time.”
    Hawk stepped up and front, Mason shook Tesla awake. “Tesla. Time to go. You can rest in a few moments. Let’s get you to safety. Then you can rest.”
    She opened her eyes, dark bruises underneath. His heart melted a little. She’d been such a trooper. “Come on.”
    “Okay,” she said in a soft voice. “I’m ready.”
    But she wasn’t standing on her own two feet yet. In fact, he wasn’t sure she could stand without his assistance. He patted her cheeks gently. “We need to go now.”
    She blinked, then gave a head shake. “Okay, let’s go.” She turned and stumbled out of his arms and behind Hawk. That she never said a word said much about her mental state.
    There’s no way she’d be able to walk on those bloody stumps without crying out. They were either numb – not good – or she was – also not good.
    Besides, she was leaving a visible blood trail.
    Hawk caught his attention and motioned to Tesla. Mason nodded. He scooped her up and fell into line.
    This had to end soon. Or she wasn’t going to make it.

Chapter 7
    T HE REST OF that trip was a blur. She knew they’d walked miles. There’d been a meeting up with another member of the team before she was carried to a small dilapidated house just outside the edge of town. She had no idea who lived there, if anyone, and couldn’t work up the energy to care.
    There was a bathroom. A real one with a toilet and a bathtub. The men had also somehow, from somewhere, rummaged up food. She had a real meal. She felt almost normal now. Supposedly she was going to be picked up by a group tomorrow morning. Soon this nightmare would be over. She could sleep for days if she wanted to then. Mission accomplished.
    That worked for her.
    Now if only she could get to that bath, then bed part of this mess.
    “Eat.” Mason stared down at her half empty plate. “You need your strength.”
    Strength. Right. Eat even if you don’t want to. It’s food. It’s energy. Her father’s words rattled through her skull. She picked up her fork again and forced another bite down. She did need food. And a bath.
    She brightened. If she finished eating, she could squeeze a bath in before she collapsed. Then again, she had to make it to the bath first. Just then, Mason nudged her elbow. She lifted her tired gaze to him.
    “Come on. Bedtime.”
    She shook her head. “Bath first.”
    He nodded. “Let’s go.” He stood up and picked her up.
    “Whoa,” she cried. “I can walk.”
    He snorted. “If that was the case then you’d have made your way up there before now.”
    She groaned. “I was working up the energy for the trip.”
    He carried her up the stairs and into the small quaint bathroom. Putting her on the counter, he swiveled and quickly turned on the water to fill a bath for her. She smiled. Had anything ever looked so good?
    They both stared as the tub filled halfway. He reached down and switched off the water. Rummaging around in the cupboard, he quickly found her an old towel. Then turned to face her.
    She snickered. “Yes, I’m fine. Yes, I can get in on my own. Yes, I will call you if I run into trouble.”
    His laughter rang through the bathroom.
    “See, I’m learning.” She grinned impishly. Nothing could knock her mood right now. She was inside, safe with a bathtub full of hot